Final answer:
Making yoga a daily habit, Harriet is likely to see decreased stress, improved flexibility, strength, and balance, and a lower risk of chronic diseases. This can contribute to her having a higher quality of life and a healthier, more active old age, with potential financial and work-related benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Harriet, a middle-aged woman, makes yoga a daily habit, she is likely to experience a number of health benefits. Consistent yoga practice can lead to a decrease in stress levels thanks to its meditative and calming exercises. This reduction of stress is important, as chronic stress can negatively impact both physical and mental health, leading to problems such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
Moreover, the physical aspect of yoga can help maintain and improve flexibility, strength, and balance, which are crucial for aging bodies. Regular physical activity like yoga is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Moreover, it contributes to better bone density and muscle mass, which tend to diminish with age.
Adopting such healthy lifestyle choices can slow down the body's deterioration that comes with old age. As one becomes more active and engaged, like the older woman who retired and changed her life by joining community groups and swimming every day, it is possible to remain healthy and active well into the 80s and 90s. Thus, alongside potentially saving money and working less hard, Harriet could enjoy a higher quality of life and potentially a longer, more fulfilling retirement.